I don’t know what to think about her. A little sister… She seems happy. Yagi-san comes and picks her up daily at school and she’s made friends with that Kenji. Kenji seems like a little brat, spoilt by his father and mother. Himura-san was it?
I try not to walk with them home most days. I’m glad I signed up for those Kendo classes it gave me an excuse not to walk with them most days.
“Oi Tomu-kun!” Kai comes up running. “Glad you’re back. Why’d you ever quit! We’ve got a competition to win and you’ve got to practice.”
I nod. Of course. “Where’s Tokio-san by the way? Did your mother really quit the school.”
I don’t answer that. “She’s in Aizu. I don’t know when she’ll be back.” No. I know she will -never- be back. It will never be like it was before.
“Well at least it seems like your father has been around lately.” Kai looks puzzled “Where were you earlier? I swear you were in the dojo just seconds before he came in.”
Tsutomu’s Story Arc
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Days Later
I know I give Yagi-san a hard time. “He” has chastised me privately again for not eating. I told him, the food tastes bland. I keep hearing him and Makoto-chan say how good the cooking is but I simply don’t get it. I don’t even get why my favorite food Crispy Fried Carp, something she should be able to cook simply, turned into this elaborate mess that I had to dump half of it in the garbage. He was -not- happy.
“Tomu-kun. I know you didn’t ask to come here. I forced you here.” He stops and looks at me, disappointed, “Hide is not a bad woman. At least try to not show her disrespect even if you feel otherwise.”
Isn’t that right Father. You had always put us below everything, everyone else. We mean nothing to you anymore. Did we ever mean something to you? I don’t answer and i know I’m scowling back at him with pursed lips.
He sits down at the corner of the low table and lights up. I should tell him not to smoke but I don’t. This wasn’t our house after all. It’s Yagi-san’s.
“I’m leaving and I don’t know when I’ll be back.”
Well this is a first. He never told us when he left. He would just -disappear-. I’ve learned not to wait. He’s going to murder someone again isn’t he…
“But I can’t leave in peace without knowing that you would behave yourself.” He drags on his cigarette. “I want to rely on you to help this house in my absence. To look after your sister.” He looks back at me. I don’t say anything.
“To look after Hide too.” He looks outside the window as if his mind is far far away. “You understand right that she’s expecting? You’ll have another sibling. I don’t know if it will be a boy or a girl…” He looks down and smiles softly, an expression I’ve not seen in him since I was a child. But you’re still a child Tomu… No.
He’s quiet for a long moment. I wonder what he is thinking?
He sighs. “Maa. I don’t want to leave…” He stands up. “I’m counting on you.” He taps my shoulder lightly. “To be the man I know you are.”
He leaves the room. He didn’t want to leave…. No. He didn’t want to leave -her-. Not us.
I open the window to my room. There’s a big tree just outside it and I climb and make my way on the rooftop. It’s a low roof but I wanted to be completely by myself. “Eat huh?” I really do wonder why Yagi-san’s cooking tastes so bland. I close my eyes and my stomach growls. Ugh. I’ll just close my eyes…
Waking up the following morning, I realize i slept on the roof. I quickly make my way down to my bedroom hoping that no one had noticed. Good. No one’s awake yet. I spy my door slightly ajar and I worry. I don’t want them finding out my hiding place. I walk over to shut it but on the floor I find, “Meat buns?”
There is a small drawing, a child’s drawing. A man, -him-. A mother – her- and what could only be Makoto. But behind them, inserted to the background are two boys one taller than the other with a scribbled title “My brothers”.
I eat the meat buns for breakfast. As for the picture, I put it in the drawer.
A few weeks later
We practice Kendo outside the schoolyard. I think my skills are coming back but after a while I break away from the “Blue Team” and find a quiet spot. I want to practice my kata, alone with no distractions.
“One, two…” I take steps and bring the shinai down over and over again. “One, two…”
It’s been several weeks now that he left. Not one word. “One, two…” I start sweating.
Kinnosuke-san is still around and so is Yukiko-onee-chan. I saw Kinnosuke-san cleaning out his gun. He’s careful to hide it in the tansu by the tatami room. It’s the 4th drawer on the 3rd level. “One, two…” I have no interest in the gun but… I need to rely on you.
Rely on me for what? I pick my shinai back up “One, two” Pulling my shoulders back, I thrust into a straight line with my left hand. I catch my breath, breathing heavily. I haven’t done that move in such a long time. Was it any good?
“Ani-ue…”
I look to the side. “Oh Makoto-chan.” I straighten up. I smile a little.
“What was that? I’ve never seen you do that before.” She smiles and does a mockup of the move.
“You’ve been watching.” I laugh a little. “Where’s Yagi-san. Isn’t she supposed to pick you up?”
“It’s early still.” She looks pointedly at my shinai and does the thrust again. “Is it like this?”
“No. For you to do the…” Gatotsu I stop. “A thrust, you lean back and follow through with your hips allowing your weight to shift…”
“Hmm. Like this?” She does the move again, slightly better but still clumsily.
“Kinda…” It’s about that time that Yagi-san should be picking her up. “Ne Makoto-chan. How long ago did you meet…” I choke at calling him that, but it’s Makoto so I try, “chichi-ue?”
“One year ago!” She exclaims so exuberant. I blink.
Only a year? That’s right I heard from -him- that he had called it off with Yagi-san. So for six years that he was with us. I stop for a moment wanting to ask, Didn’t you resent him. Like I have. You should… He was no good to us. But I don’t ask her. Instead i place a hand on her shoulder and guide her back. I think that’ Yagi-san waiting for Makoto.
Six years is a long time not to know. Even for you “father”, that was too long. I don’t know why but I wanted to at least tell her why he was gone for a portion of it.
“Father was…” I choke a little bit at that word, “he was severely injured during the line of duty and had to recover in London for a year.” It was odd for him to be -that- careless but I suppose things caught up with him. One day everything does eventually.
She looks up and nods her head seriously. Oh good. That takes care of the year or so he was missing. As for the rest, those were years he spent with us… Well did he really?
I let her go to her mother and just as we’re a stone’s throw away. “Hey Makoto-chan. You can keep watching me.” I say and settle my shinai up my shoulder and grin slightly. Maybe it will keep her mind off her father’s disappearance. He’s your father too.
“Oi… Who is that little girl?” A voice asks as I turn the corner. “She can’t be your little sister? You guys don’t look that much alike.”
I turn and see Kudou. He has a name now, leader of the “Red Team”. The same person who called me a chicken. “It’s none of your business Kudou.” I wonder how much he heard.
“Oi… It’s none of my business.” He chortles, “But I heard a school teacher here left abruptly. There was slapping going on. Ahahaha! But that was just a rumor. I wonder how the little girl fits into it?”
He walks away and I grip my shinai. He knows nothing. He -will- know nothing.
A letter came from Tsuyoshi, I read it.
Brother, I heard you went with Father back to Tokyo. I’m glad you went back to school at Futaba and I am jealous! Please tell my friends I miss them and maybe one day I will visit! Uncle Namuzawa treats me very well and I can have all the Mazamen I want everyday. He also takes me to kendo practice even on Saturdays. I think I am catching up to you in Kendo. One day I will get a “hit”. One day! My English is still poor but I just find reading the book father gave us so boring. How did you ever finish it in such a short time, much less understand it is beyond me. Please take care of yourself. Otou-san and I visit mother almost every week so do not worry about Mother.
I fold the note. Yagi-san gave me the note. I wonder if she read it. I’m sure she did after all it’s from Aizu. I want to write Yoshi back but how? I also want to write to Mother, just to tell her that he left -again-. I can’t let Yagi-san see.
Finally finishing my letter, I wait for Yagi-san to leave for the market. She goes every Saturday morning. I put on my getta and go downstairs, looking to make sure Yagi-san is gone. It’s been a while since I’ve been in the machiya, but I remember how to get there. I open the gate.
“Oh Tomu-kun.” I’m left face to face with Yukiko-nee-san. “Where are you going?”
Darn it! I thought she was still asleep. Is she just coming back? But from where?
“I”ll be back shortly. I just wanted to go to Eiji-nii.” I tell her.
“Oh but you can’t go alone. Did you tell Yagi-san?”
I frown. Why would I have to tell -that- woman? “No but I’ve been there before.” I walk past her. She’s not stopping me.
“Tomu-kun! Wait!” She tries to stop me and I -run-! She doesn’t know where Eiji-nii lives right? I turn the corner and disappear in an alley.
——–
It’s Saturday and the sun is barely peeking through the clouds. I raise an arm to shield my face.
“Eiji-nii! Open up!” I hear a rapping at my door and I groan but get up.
“Oh Tomu…” I let him in, “Why so early.” I look around, he came alone? That’s not good. Fujita-san never liked them going here by themselves. He always had me take them. I sigh. I think I know what happened.
“Did you have breakfast yet?” I ask but don’t press him yet at the stupid thing he did.
“No. I don’t like the food there.”
I raise an eyebrow, it’s been several weeks since he’s been living at Yagi-san’s. Is he still not eating? He can be stubborn.
“Makoto gave me buns though from school.” He adds.
“Hmm.” I look through the cupboards and open a can of sardines in red sauce. I know he likes fish but I don’t know if fish in a can will do. I get him some rice to go along with it. I watch him eat, he seems hungry.
“Hoi Tomu…” I drink a little of the coffee I prepared. “Why’d you come here?”
He looks up at me and holds up 2 letters. “Can you help me get these to Aizu?”
I look at the hastily written letters, not even in an envelope. One addressed to his mother and the other to Tsuyoshi. I’m quiet as I read the letters. The one addressed to Tsuyoshi seems happier compared to when he used to speak to Tsuyoshi. I am -glad- for that. It seems Tomu is getting used to not having his brother around. As for the letter to Tokio-san, he doesn’t say anything about Yagi-san or Makoto, but he does speak about how it’s good that Yukiko is there now that -he- is gone again.
He’s disappeared now for a couple of weeks. Mother do you think he is still doing that kind of work? The one that will bring us trouble? I know you told me to stay here and finish my studies and that I should make sure -he- remembers us, what’s due to us but he’s left again and I haven’t heard anything. Not a word but do not worry mother I will make sure he remembers -us-.
I fold the letter. I want to pat his head but I know that might upset him. He seems to be in a better mood since that letter from Tsuyoshi came. I finish my coffee and think. I did not quite expect this. For a time I grew up in the Fujita household occasionally going to Hiroaki-san in the summers, back then Tokio-san seemed unsure, even timid but not like -this-. I know she is prone to bouts of depression but then shifts, there is a word for this I have heard in the military “bipolar” disorder. Quite common for those soldiers who had suffered some post trauma. I wonder if I should send the other letter?
Tomu has made himself comfortable in the engawa and just looking up. I let him spend a few more minutes. I need to take him back to Yagi-san. They probably do not even know he is gone. Does Yagi-san even know this place, Otou-san seems to have abandoned it and left it to me.
Yukiko:
I was very worried. I breathe deeply. Eiji is in the room with Yagi-san and I heard him asking for Yagi-san’s forgiveness for the folly of his brother. The truth is I’m just glad Tomu is back. Uncle would lose his mind if something were to happen to his eldest son. Ah wait that is Eiji but Tomu is special. I know this I’ve seen them before in the summers when he would bring the brothers and they’d play Kendo outside. Uncle would surprise them and go after them saying “Ill prepared for the way of the man!”.
Tomu’s gone off upstairs, quiet. He didn’t want to hear what Yagi-san might say. Eiji comes out of the room looking somewhat serious. I follow him outside. We haven’t really spoken since we’ve seen each other. I suppose I have been preoccupied with Kinnosuke. Where is he?
“Eiji.” I bow to him, “That you for bringing him back. I’m afraid I made trouble for you as I wasn’t able to stop him.”
He looks at me for a moment and I wonder if something’s on my face. “Ah don’t worry about it Yukiko-nee-san.” He smiles slightly, “I think Yagi-san understands.” He pauses and looks back towards the house. “But can you speak to Tomu? I’m sure he knows what he did was wrong. I suppose he is still cross that I took him back here so quickly.”
“I think it was a good idea you took him back. I wouldn’t want to worry Yagi-san in her condition.” I say and fidget. Eiji nods thoughtfully. “I wish Otou-san would at least give them word. Eventhough Yagi-san seems okay with it…” I think of the man I had decided to call my father, Otou-san, it’s never really okay is it?
“Please be kind of Tomu. He only wanted to send letters to Aizu.” I bow to Yukiko-nee-san, just like I did earlier to Yagi-san. My wish is truly for their happiness.
“I will. I know this is hard for him.” I smile at Eiji, he’s always been such a good boy. My father would talk very highly of him. He was industrious and help us in the store and in the afternoon’s he would cook because I would steal away since I always felt lacking in that skill.
“Eiji,” I reach out and touch his arm, “You remember Suzuki-san don’t you?” I smile. “One day I’d like for all of us to just get to know each other. He’s like family to me.” I look at him, I don’t know why he never really seem to like Kinnosuke, but I want Eiji to know he is like family and maybe even more than.
He bows, “I’m sure there will be an opportunity. But I am also busy Yukiko…” He leaves and I look back at him. Yukiko?
Closing the gates I go up Tomu’s room and sit by the bed. Tomu’s scowling and playing with Makoto’s Tenmari ball, throwing it up in the air.
“I wish you didn’t run from me earlier.” I tell him softly. “I would’ve gone with you,you know.” I smile at him.
“No you wouldn’t have.” He answers and throws the ball to the ceiling. “You asked me if I got permission from -her-.”
Ah back to “her” huh? I open the window to his room. “There’s a nice breeze out. Well I would’ve gone with you after we told Yagi-san of course.” I smile at him. “I wouldn’t want to worry Yagi-san you know. After all, she’s expecting and taking care of a lot of people in the house.”
He narrows his eyes. It’s then that I realize, he may not have known. I sit down. “You may have another brother or sister soon.”
“So what?”
Ah so he did -know-. I wonder if Uncle told him.”She’s going to need our help, even in the simplest of things. We all have to try to do our best right even with Uncle gone.” This I tell him, if uncle told him about this then I’m almost sure the two of them already had this discussion.
I stand up. I’m going to ask Yagi-san if she can let me cook tonight, or rather if she can direct me. I want Tomu-kun to eat and Yagi-san to not feel like she is being a bad hostess. I need to alleviate a little of the pressure from Yagi-san.
———
That night..
Tsutomu:
I steal to the rooftop again. I ate some of what Yukiko-nee-chan made. It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t very good either. I throw the tenmari ball higher up to the dark sky. This is Makoto’s ball but she just left it lying around so…
”What are you boys doing again?”
He comes home and we run to him. My brother and I, full of mud.
“We made mud balls!” We tell him.
He grins and I hold up a big big mud ball for him to see.
“No. No. Look at mine chichi-ue!” Tsuyoshi pushes mine away and pushes his staining chichi-ue’s uniform.
“Tsuyoshi!” My eyes go wide. Oh no. I reach up and wipe the mud away. “Don’t do that. Chichi-ue’s uniform needs to be clean. All the time.” I want him to do a great job!
He laughs and throws his cigarette to the ground and holds out his gloved hand.
“Come on. Put your balls here. I want to see it.”
Yoshi puts his mud ball on it right away. My eyes go wide. His white gloves!
“And you, where’s yours?” He smirks at me,
“It’s okay to put mine there?” I look up at him
“Of course. Don’t worry there’s nothing that Chichi-ue can’t fix.”
I look at Yoshi, “Hurry brother just put it!”
I grin wide and raise my hand and slam my bigger mud ball on top of Yoshi’s. “BAM!” I say and laugh. Yoshi takes both of his hand and slams it on top of mine “BAM BAM!”
He laughs as the mud went splattering all over the place. He picks up Tsuyoshi and holds my hand. “Let’s go inside? Tell me what happened today?” He asks smiling.
“Yoshi and I spent all day at the neighbors house!” I tell him excitedly. “Mother said she had to meet with someone but Yoshi and I were good.” I reassure him.
He smiled and closed his eyes. Father?
I look up at the night sky. The clouds covering the moon, I watch as the wind sweeps the cloud away. But where’s the sparkle? I thought. I blink and blink and blink and stand up.
I throw the tenmari as hard as I can downwards to the dark tree.
I blink.
I’m a man. I will fight! I will fight! Until that day comes.
Tsutomu Arc #2
It’s the weekend and Makoto is running around in the yard. I sit on the tatami just watching her. I support my chin on the palm of my hand.
“Do you want to play night and day?” She comes over and ask me. I shake my head and go back to my paper pad. “I have homework.” I tell her.
She frowns and sits on the engawa. I look her over, she has -his- hair, straight and black. I always wanted straight hair, not these wavy ones.
I write an answer to mathematics. It’s such a lazy day.
Makoto traces her fingers on the engawa. I crane my neck slightly to take a look and I see she drew a letter “Y”, then an “A”, then an “M”. Oh she’s practicing! I didn’t know she knows some English letters. I already know all of the alphabet.
“You wrote YAM.” I tell her, “Do you like sweets?” I -love- yam.
“No. It’s not YAM.” She turns to me and shakes her head. “I can’t write it all yet.”
“What are you trying to write?”
“My name.” She looks down and traces some more letters.
“Your name is “Makoto”. I write it for her.
“Oh i know how to write my first name.” She smiles at me a little but then frowns a little. “I’m trying to write my last name.”
“Oh…” I forgot his real name. I’ve always thought of us as Fujita. Not the other name, mother said that’s an old name we never use anymore. Fujita is much better given by the Lord of Aizu. Why would he let them use an old name that has no meaning?
Suddenly I reach and ruffle Makoto’s hair a little. She’s not bad. “Here” I tear a piece of paper from my notebook and use a pencil. “You already got the “YAM” and so the A you just repeat. Then a G and U and the C is just a G without the tail. And the H is just an A, except it has straight lets and the easiest is the “I”, just a vertical line. See!” I smile a little.
She nods and I give her the pencil. “But you know Makoto, “YAMs” are much better.” I take out candy and eat it. “Here you can have some of my yams.”
She smiles and I’m happy for a moment. But then I remember, I lost her tenmari the other night.
“Ne Makoto-chan.” I ask quietly, “Did you miss your ball?” Oh i know I lost it. I just wanted to know if she even missed it.
“I’ve been looking for it.” She looks up at me with a worried look on her face, “Chichi-ue gave it to me when we were in Ito. He also gave me marbles. I want to find it before he comes back and finds out I lost it.”
I don’t tell her I threw it away. I’m not sure it was dark and I thought… Wait he made her a tenmari? For a minute I’m jealous, it’s been years since he gave us anything. The last was that English book. I wonder if I should give the book to Makoto. I don’t need it and Yoshi isn’t very bright.
“Can you help me find it?” She asks.
“I don’t know.” I lie because what I really wanted to say was -maybe-.
I spy Yagi-san bringing refreshments over. Quickly I get up and give Makoto-chan the rest of the yams. I can buy more from my allowance later. Speaking of allowance I wonder when Eiji will drop by. Hopping off the engawa, I go around the back way. I’ll enter through the kitchen door. I don’t really want to see her.
I hear footsteps as I approach; it’s Tsutomo, ghosting away from me as per usual.
-Patience- I tell myself. From my brothers I know the ways of boys that age, stuck between boyhood and manhood, wanting and dreading both at the same time. I can tell that he must be eating somewhere, even if he rejects most of my offerings. But he comes home to sleep (and I know he’s on the roof; the drainpipe he favors rattles by my room). Eiji evasively confirmed that the boy goes to him sometimes. He gets letters from his family in Aizu.
And then he has me and Mokoto. Makoto, as is her nature, just keeps trying with her brother.
I see where Makoto’s been practicing her names in English letters. “That looks good, my little one. You’ve been practicing!”
She beams at me, stuffing sweets in her face. “Mmm mmm Tsutomo helped me with our family name it’s long.”
Really? I keep my smile to myself. “That’s good. Keep up, though, but please apply the same effort to your name in Japanese”.
I stand. It’s still so early but I can feel the heaviness on me, the strength that this little one within me is pulling from me. But this time I’m determined to take care of myself – drinking horrid stinky health teas…. and I have a houseful to keep myself active for. Yukiko-chan of course is always wanting to help, but I try to avoid giving her actual -work- and try to show her what she’ll need – after all, Kinnosuke-san keeps a house with servants so she needs to know more how things should be instead of how they are actually done.
I collect the snack dishes. “I should start dinner soon,” I said, to noone in particular. Then I remember something, of Tamesaburo. How at this age he rejected both the Kyoto style cooking with its elaborate touches that my mother had the servants prepare, and the childish dishes I had made for them – cute touches like carved carrots or shaped rice balls to get wayward children to eat what they didn’t want to. He wanted plain food, and a lot of it. Perhaps? I see the sweet wrappers. I’ll just have to keep trying, like Makoto.
I go in the kitchen and see Yukiko -trying- to prepare for lunch. She’s just getting the fish and tofu out.
“You’ll be cooking again today?” I smile at her, “Just a little more and you’ll get better at this.” Since we’re alone I reach out to her hand and squeeze it.
“It’s for Tsutomu.” She says quietly.
“Ah yes I saw him on the roof.” I laugh softly, “He hit me with this.”
I hold up a little tenmari ball and give it to Yukiko.
“Oh? When?”
“The other night. I guess he was upset. He hit me pretty hard.” I show her the side of my forehead. She reaches up and pushes aside my hair.
“Hmm. I think you’ll survive.” She moves away and looks down. “He had stolen away to Eiji that day. I was wondering where you were.”
“Ah you know I still have to work.” I smile, “How is Eiji?”
“I told him I’d like for you two to spend time together.”
“Oh?” I’m surprised. “That can probably be arranged.”
She turns, “That would make me happy. I think he will stop by in a few days for Tomu. Tomu’s birthday is coming up up you know, I’m sure he’d like to do something for him.”
I cup my chin, “Hmm. Maybe he and I can plan for something for Tsutomu, a surprise perhaps?”
“I don’t know. I would think Eiji would know best but it might be an opportunity for you two to speak.”
I nod. It’s about time I speak to Eiji myself but aside from that, I need to give an update to Yamaguchi-san. I wonder if my messages actually reach him? So far he hasn’t responded but nothing I’ve updated him about is urgent.
(Hide) I come into the kitchen, where Yukiko-san is working… I open my mouth to tell her to stop, I’ll do it, but no. Even if she will be in a household for servants, a wife (and mother) will still want to make special dishes. And in this era, a “lady” can do more as she wishes. And if she wants to cook, she should.
“Thank you for helping, Yukiko-san,” I smile. “It’s a lot, to cook for this many, and so many of them with big appetites!” I step over to the kamado and adjust the coals inside. “This old thing heats up very fast; but that means its still very good and solid.” I pat her on the shoulder, and I notice that the water in the pot starts to calm to a rolling boil instead of close to boiling over.
“I would love if you can show me some Kanto-style dishes? Your uncle eats my Kyoto cooking but I’d like to know more.” Maybe if she can show me what she’s comfortable with, she’ll gain some confidence? And maybe I’ll be able to discover some dishes Tsutomo likes.
There’s an old expression – homesickness begins in the stomach. Of course, it’s his mother and brother he must miss as well, but perhaps some food will help?
“Maybe if you don’t know all the steps, we can work on it together? You at least know the taste and we can adjust until we get it right.”
Then I notice the temari ball – isn’t it the same one as Makoto’s?
Makoto (outside)
I sit on the engawa. Tsutomo-kun is very nice even if he doesn’t want to play a lot, but he talks to me.
He likes kendo. I’m going to draw him doing that. I heard at school that there’s going to be a contest, maybe my drawing will bring him luck!
“It’s a lot, to cook for this many, and so many of them with big appetites!”
“I’m very glad to do it Yagi-san.” I look at Kinosuke, now he has quite the appetite and uncle too but he’s not here. Actually all of them except Tomu but if I can do this it will be easier for Yagi-san.
“I would love if you can show me some Kanto-style dishes? Your uncle eats my Kyoto cooking but I’d like to know more.”
“I don’t know what Uncle likes but I know what Otou-san likes.” I smile at Yagi-san, “Nigirizushi… Simple dishes like Oyako-don, Gyu-don and Monjayaki. As far as I can remember when Eiji used to live with us he would not turn them down.” I think for a moment, “Very rarely does he take Tomu and Yoshi but we always had Taiyaki, Yams and Amanatto. Uncle would never eat the yams, that would be Tomu but he’d take a bite of the Amanatto on occasion.”
I see Yagi-san eyeing the ball. “Ah Kinosuke found this outside.” I look back at him. I’m sure he gets what the look means as I smile. Don’t tell Yagi-san about Tomu or your -exaggerated- injury!
He smiles back at me and nods his head, “By the way Yagi-san, I found some laborers for the house addition. We’ve already made the deposit and they should start work next week.” He turns towards her, “Was there anything specific you would like for the extra bedroom? Better finishes perhaps? Or it can be made larger or there can be built-ins to make it more comfortable?”
Ah there he goes again, offering. I’ve always liked that about Kinosuke, always trying to go beyond. Money has never been an object for him. I hope she accepts.
(OOC: Sorry i haven’t been able to figure out the email issue)
She lists some dishes – some I know, others I don’t. “I would be most thankful for your guidance, Yukiko-san. Perhaps tomorrow we can go to the market for ingredients?” She’s such a kind young woman.
I catch something of a -look- between Yukiko-san and Kinosuke-san when I ask about the ball. Perhaps he caught Makoto being careless with it? I hope not, but she usually treasures anything to do with Hajime. Yet she is only a child.
Kinosuke-san also makes offers regarding the addition. “This is an older house, without a lot of ornamentation, so the addition should be similar.” My old home in Kyoto had some fine touches but I like the simplicity of this home where Hajime and I had so many important times… a bit of a smile crosses my lips, before I continue, “but built-ins would be very helpful. And with all of these children, it needs to be sturdy!” Most of the rooms upstairs lack built-ins, and a room downstairs must have a place to hide away futons, blankets and personal items. “Thank you so much for taking care of the addition.”
“Let me check on Makoto, I’ll be back.”
*Outside*
Makoto sits up and grins up at me. She’s been working on another picture. “What’s that?” I ask.
It’s a simple drawing of a figure with a stick. “It’s Tsutomo-oniisan. He practices kendo at school and he’s very good at it! He let me watch the other day and he’s going to win a contest at school, I know it!”
I ruffle her hair and hug her to my side. He’s good to her, and around others, I tell myself. I smile at my little girl. “I think that’s a wonderful drawing. Why don’t you put it away carefully and pick up before dinner?”
*Hide returns to the kitchen, Makoto will follow shortly*
Yukiko:
“Oh yes. Of course Yagi-san. I wonder if we should just buy the sweets.” I say more to myself and turn to her, “Father and Eiji would cook and the sweets were just always store bought.” There is something to be said about convenience.
Yagi-san accepts Kinosuke’s offer and I am glad. I wonder what kind of built-in’s though? I’m sure Kinosuke can figure it out with the builders. He had a big study in his estate and everything was built in and sturdy. None of it could be moved! Oh but she wanted it simple, i wonder if Kinosuke knows -how- to be simple.
She leaves and goes looking for Makoto. It’s getting late and I go ahead and finish preparing a simple dish of tofu soup and fried fish with scallions. I didn’t realize it’s too late for lunch so this is now dinner! I look at the rice, it’s a little watery… I’m sure they won’t mind.
Tsutomu:
I yawn after taking a nap earlier and go downstairs. Oh good only nee-chan and Kinosuke-san is there. I quickly go downstairs and get myself some water. Ah! Nothing like clean fresh water. I stretch some more and chug some more.
“I’m hungry.” I tell Nee-chan.
She nods her head and brings over 2 bowls. I look down, why do I have 2 soups? I like water but…
I start with the milky white soup, the other one is obviously tofu soup.
“Eat up.” she tells me and Kinosuke-san with a smile.
After Makoto washes up, we join everyone else at the table.
Oh dear.
Well, I can say that the fish is cooked quite well. Simple, but that suits the fish she bought, which was a nicer cut than I normally would buy. “This fish is very crispy, Yukiko-san, thank you so much for the all this you did to make us a wonderful dinner.”
But even Tsutomo, who tries to make his face as impassive as his father’s, looks at the rice… perhaps I should have let her overcook it, then it wouldn’t be so watery.
She tries! Perhaps once Kinosuke-san is absorbed in the addition construction I can give her more guidance. Even if she ends up not doing the cooking, a Japanese woman should know how to make rice.
Or maybe she was going for a porridge?
Makoto kept up her usual chatter about her day at school. I think she’s glad to have a full house, with many people to interact with.
“Please allow me to clean up, Yukiko-san.” I nudge Makoto a little, and she gives her thanks again for the dinner as well.
“This fish is very crispy, Yukiko-san, thank you so much for the all this you did to make us a wonderful dinner.”
Oh I’m so happy. Yagi-san thought my cooking was -great-. I shall keep doing more of the cooking for now on. Even Kinosuke is happily slurping the rice! And of course Tsutomu is eating now too.
Everyone finishes and brings their dirty dishes to the sink, while Yagi-san picks up after Makoto and insist on doing dishes. I never liked doing the dishes, Kinosuke would do it. I look at him, to -help- Yagi-san.
He smiles, gets up and tries to take the dirty dishes from Yagi-san. Hopefully he’s successful. At around this time Kinosuke and I would just steal to his study, have a mochi and talk. I miss being able to speak to him.
While no one is looking Tsutomu quietly steals the Tenmari -again-. What is his obsession with that ball? Maybe it’s his? Ah well he didn’t bring anything but his clothes and shinai now that I think about it.
“Well Yagi-san, if you don’t mind I’ll be turning in for the night.” I say, a little tired. All that cooking is -hard-. I don’t particularly like it but I’m glad to help. I wish Eiji was here, now he was a good cook. Soon I hope Kinosuke and he can finally talk.
(OOC: Feel free to direct anybody, except Tsutomu)
Kinosuke-san starts coming over with plates and I wave him away. “Please, Kinosuke-san, you’ve done so much today with finding workers for the addition. Why don’t you and Yukiko-san take it easy now?” That, and I want to do what I can to rescue the rest of the rice and it would be easier without him around. Kimosuke-san opens his mouth and starts, “Oh, it’s no prob-” before Yukiko-san, and then he suddenly smiles “Thank you, Yagi-san. We can go out and have a look at the area for the addition”.
“Makoto, please start carefully bringing the plates over.” I smile over at the boy, who looks just as closed off as ever. “Tsutomu-kun, would you please go outside to the well and bringing in a pail of water so I can rinse the dishes?” We’re lucky to have a small one in the garden. I give him a smile before turning back to my chores, and watching Makoto trying to carry a stack of bowls all at -once-.
I pull out some loosely woven cloth to try to strain out the water from the rice as I heat the water for the dishes. Perhaps I can save it for some sort of breakfast dish?
“Tsutomu-kun, would you please go outside to the well and bringing in a pail of water so I can rinse the dishes?”
I stymie a sigh and want to ask why. But I remember this isn’t my house and I just ate -their- food. Eiji-nii-san always said to mind my manners so I do as I’m told.
It doesn’t take me long to get the water with the pail. I put it beside her and turn to leave.
Tsutomo-kun brings in the water, silent as usual, but he does. He shows better manners than my brothers did at his age. “Thank you, Tsutomo-kun.” To both him and Makoto, I offer, “in the tin there are some daifuku, please help yourself.” I tweak Makoto’s nose, “but just one or two for you, little one, but after you finish clearing the table.”
I turn back to the washing and hear a CRASH. I look – Makoto has dropped the large serving plate the fish was served on. I grab a rag from the counter. “Let me pick up the pieces, they may be sharp, then you can wipe.” She looks stricken and I kiss her forehead. “It’s nothing to be upset about.”
I was just about to get a daifuku when Makoto drops the serving tray and it’s now broken in pieces on the floor. Hn? That’s odd. But -she- is already by Makoto’s side and consoles her.
It seems Makoto will be okay. I go on and take a couple of pieces of daifuku and leave. There’s nothing for me to do here.